Rodeheaver Series Sponsors Indianapolis Opera Visit
Posted
Staff Report-
The Rodeheaver Series for the Performing Arts will present the Young Artists of the Indianapolis Opera on Sunday at 2 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Warsaw.
The ensemble includes soprano Abigail Mitchell, mezzo-soprano Paulette Maria Penzvalto, tenor Nicholas Nesbitt, baritone Daniel Scofield and coach/accompanist Eric Andries. These talented young singers will take the audience on a magical journey through some of the world's greatest operas with a program of arias, duets and scenes.
Mitchell is from Seattle, Wash. She received her bachelor's degree from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music and is currently a graduate student there.
For IU Opera Theater she performed the roles of Anna Reich in "Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor and Javotte in Manon", and she also sang Nuria in the collegiate premiere of Osvaldo Golijov's "Ainadamar" with the IU Chamber Orchestra. In Summer 2009, Mitchell was the soprano soloist in "Carmina Burana" in Sao Paulo, Brazil. She made her Indianapolis Opera debut as Naiad in the company's fall 2009 production of "Ariadne auf Naxos", and will sing Peep-Bo in the Indianapolis Opera's "The Mikado" in March 2010.
Penzvalto is from Avon, Ohio. She completed her graduate studies in voice with distinction at The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, Wales. She also received a diploma from the Università di Siena in Italy and studied at the International Lyric Academy in Rome.
Her roles include Cherubino in "Le nozze di Figaro", Dorabella in "Così fan tutte", Maddalena in "Rigoletto", the title role in "Carmen" and Octavian in "Der Rosenkavalier". She performed as a soloist in Poulenc's "Gloria" in Fougères, France, and in the summer of 2009 was a young artist with Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre. Penzvalto made her Indianapolis Opera debut in 2009 as Dryad in "Ariadne auf Naxos", and will perform the role of Pitti-Sing in the Indianapolis Opera's "The Mikado" in March 2010.
Nesbitt hails from Athens, Ohio. He received his master's degree in voice from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music. While at IU, he performed the roles of Fenton in "Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor", Sam in "Susannah", Nemorino in "L'elisir d'amore" and the title role in Busoni's "Arlecchino".
He was a first-place winner at the National Association of Teachers of Singing Indiana state and regional competitions and won third place in the Bel Canto Foundation's regional vocal competition. He made his Indianapolis Opera debut in Fall 2009 as the officer in "Ariadne auf Naxos".
Scofield, a native of Binghamton, N.Y., is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree at Indiana University.
He participated in Sylvia McNair's opera workshop class as Count Almaviva and in a workshop concert performance of "La tragédie de Carmen" as Escamillo. This fall at IU he sang Mahler's "Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen" with orchestra, and Taddeo in "L'italiana" in Algeri.
Last year Scofield performed the role of Fiorello in "Il barbiere di Siviglia" with Opera Cleveland, and was an apprentice artist at Central City, where he covered Count Carl Magnus and performed in scenes as Guglielmo, Count Almaviva and Curio. He will make his Indianapolis Opera debut as Pish-Tush in "The Mikado" in March 2010.
Andries is from Baton Rouge, La. He has played piano his entire life, and received both bachelor's and master's degrees in piano performance from Louisiana State University. He has studied abroad, participating in summer programs in France and Austria. Andries has worked for several opera companies as rehearsal pianist for shows such as "Cold Sassy Tree" and "Little Women". In addition to accompanying opera and playing classical piano, he is an avid jazz pianist and arranger. He performed twice at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival as keyboardist for a local salsa band.
The Rodeheaver Series for the Performing Arts, sponsor for the concert, was established in 1990 to support and foster performing arts and artists in a manner which brings glory to God. Named for the Rodeheaver family, known for their development and support of Christian music, and long-time members of First United Methodist Church of Warsaw, the Rodeheaver Series has sponsored more than 50 concerts, recitals and theatrical presentations.
The Indianapolis Opera Ensemble's performance, as are all Rodeheaver Series performances, is free of charge, and the public is invited.
First United Methodist Church of Warsaw is at the corner of Indiana and Market streets downtown, is handicap accessible, and provides listening assistance.For more information on the Rodeheaver Series for the Performing Arts, or for directions to the church, call the church office at 574-267-6933 or visit the church Web site at www.warsawfumc.org
